Smart Meter Basics and Benefits

Today’s Topic:

With all of the talk about Smart Meters, Smart Grid, Smart Homes, etc.

How Come I feel so DUMB?

What I will coverWhat I will cover

Smart Meter BasicsWhat makes them “Smart”?What they can doWhat they can’t do

Why Buy Them?DriversConsumerGovernment

Public Power and Smart MeteringBenefits to our CommunityBenefits to our Utility

Questions

Smart Meters Smart Meters –– Who Invented Who Invented Them?Them?

Smart MetersSmart Meters

What makes a meter Smart?

• Solid state• Communications • Electronics under glass• Two-way• Proactive

Smart MetersSmart Meters

What can a Smart Meter do?

• Provide a standard read• Provide tamper information• Provide an on-demand read• Used with multiple rate options• Net metering• Provide interval data• Provide an outage signal

Smart MetersSmart Meters

What can a Smart Meter do?

• Allow remote connect/disconnect• Allow pre-pay applications• Be remotely programmed• Communicate with devices inside

the home• Communicate with other meters• Demand response & load control• Can be programmed for numerous

applications• And more…

Smart MetersSmart MetersWhat can’t a Smart Meter do?

• Nothing, according to most meter companies.

• Replace or substitute SCADA• Broadband applications• Play nicely with other smart

meters (in most instances)

Smart Meters Smart Meters –– Why Buy Them?Why Buy Them?

Primary Drivers:

Consumers

Smart Meters Smart Meters –– Why Buy Them?Why Buy Them?Primary Drivers:

Government

Smart Meters Smart Meters Community BenefitsCommunity BenefitsIncreased Customer Service & Satisfaction

Faster outage detection and restorationFlexible billing optionsBetter explanation and resolution of high bill

complaintsFast and accurate energy informationAbility to proactively manage their energy usage

Smart Meters Smart Meters Utility BenefitsUtility Benefits

Improves Utility EfficienciesOn-demand reads from the office – no truck rollFaster resolution of high bill complaintsPro-active outage informationRemote monitoring of utility equipmentRemote connect/disconnect – no truck rollLeak detection

Smart Meters Smart Meters Utility BenefitsUtility Benefits

Rate OptionsTime of Use (TOU) rate optionsNet meteringPre-pay options

Demand response and controlDirect load control

Stay connected to your customers!

Cash Register of the UtilityCash Register of the Utility

Cash Register of the UtilityCash Register of the Utility

Questions?Questions?

http://www.oe.energy.gov/SmartGridIntroduction. htm

123 Second Street WestThief River Falls, MN 56701218-681-0963nmpa@mncable.net